Boardman is a brand synonymous with good quality, well-specced bikes at affordable prices. The brand's foray into gravel bikes should, then, prompt plenty of excitement.
The ADV 9.0 sits at the top of Boardman’s ADV gravel bike range and uses the brand’s all-new ADV C10 carbon frame.
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The frame and fork are claimed to weigh a pretty reasonable 990g and 430g, respectively (painted, with a size medium frame), and have clearance for up to 42mm tyres on 700c wheels.
It also has hidden mudguard mounts (hallelujah!) and multiple mounting points for bottles and accessories, so you can load up and go on a lovely bikepacking adventure.
In terms of geometry, the Boardman ADV 9.0 is that heady mix between road and off-road which makes gravel bikes so versatile. In fact, Boardman says it “might be the only bike you’ll ever need”.
A slack 71.5-degree head-tube angle keeps things stable over rough terrain, while shorter stems across the size range keep handling from feeling too slow. The 73-degree seat-tube angle should put you in a good position over the bottom bracket for climbing.
The frameset is completed by a BB386 press-fit bottom bracket, fitted with an adaptor to make it play nice with a Shimano crankset.
This could be contentious because many value the easy serviceability of a threaded bottom-bracket system, especially on bikes designed for off-road use (where the wet and mucky conditions are typically harder on parts and bearings).
The BB386 standard does allow compatibility with the vast majority of cranksets and spindles currently on the market, though, which could be useful if you ever want to upgrade the cranks or use a crank-based power meter with a different spindle, for example.
The build features a mix of Shimano’s GRX RX600 and RX810 groupsets, with an 46/30t double chainset and an 11-32t cassette. Shimano GRX RX400 hydraulic brakes with Shimano RT-30 rotors (160mm front and rear) provide the stopping power.
The build is finished with a selection of Boardman branded parts and wheels, a Prologo saddle and 38mm Panaracer Gravel King SK tubeless-ready tyres. The total claimed weight for the bike is 9.2kg.
In a positive step, tubeless setup should be easy because the wheels ship with tubeless tape and valves pre-installed. All you’ll need to do is add sealant when you receive the bike.
And the price? £1,700. Not bad at all, all things considered.
If it performs as good as it looks on paper, this could be a real bargain, so look out for a full review coming soon.
Boardman ADV 9.0 specification
- Price: £1,700
- Weight: 9.2kg (claimed)
- Model year: 2021
- Brand: Boardman
- Sizes available: S, M, L, XL
- Frame: Boardman ADV C10 Carbon (142 x 12mm thru-axle)
- Fork: C10 Carbon with tapered steerer (100 x 12mm thru-axle)
- Bottom bracket: FSA BB386 press-fit with 24mm Shimano adaptor
- Headset: FSA Orbit C-40 ACB, 1 1/8in - 1.5in tapered, integrated
- Crankset: Shimano GRX RX600, 46/30t
- Derailleurs: Shimano GRX RX810
- Shifters: Shimano GRX RX600
- Brakes: Shimano GRX RX400 hydraulic brakes with 160mm Shimano RT-30 rotors
- Cassette: Shimano 105 R7000, 11-32t
- Chain: KMC X11
- Wheels: Boardman ADV tubeless ready
- Tyres: Panaracer Gravel King SK, 700 x 38mm tubeless ready
- Saddle: Prologo Akero AGX
- Finishing kit: Boardman alloy
